Collating machine



Oct. 28, 1941. c, sc 2,260,540

COLLA'IING MACHINE Filed April' 28, 1941 13 Sheets Sheet 1 Oct. 28, 1941. c. SCHRAMM 2,250,540

COLLATING MACHINE Fileq April 28, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 28, 1941. c. SCHRAMM COLLATING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nl E' N TOP wa/r'wv,

r azl Oct. 28, 1941. c. SCHRAMM COLLATING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 28, 1941. 2,260,540

C. SCHRAMM COLLATING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1941 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 28, 1941. c. SCHRAMM 2,260,540

COLLATING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1941 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 C. SCHRAMM COLLATING MACHINE Flled Aprll 28 1941 .L 4 9 1 8 2 t c O Oct. 28, 1941. c. scHRAMM 2,260,540

COLLATING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 Oct. 28, 1941. c. SCHRAMM 2,260,540

COLLA'I'ING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1941 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 49 M gl/ 145 Oct. 28, 1941. c. SCHRAMM COLLATING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Patented Oct. 28, 1941 COLLATING MACHINE Carl Schramm, North Coventry, Conn, minor to The Smyth Manufacturing Company, Bartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 28, 1941, Serial No. 390,771

42 Claims. (Cl. 270-52) This invention relates to a machine which collates r collects and interposes sheets of paper and carbon sheets and forms them into pads for commercial and industrial manifold service where several copies of records are desired.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple machine that will occupy but a small floor space and which will with precision, speed and without waste automatically pick up, transfer and superpose alternately in accurate relation flat sheets of paper and carbon sheets, the paper sheets being scored so that they may be easily detached, and the necessary sheets being pasted and pressed along one edge so that they will adhere, and then discharge in pad form, the mechanisms being so designed and cooperatively arranged that with the possible simple adjustments, any desired number of paper sheets of ordinary commercial sizes of the same or different colors or textures, with similar or varying printings, rulings and numberings, and the necessary number of carbon sheets of the same or different lengths, widths and outlines as the paper sheets, may be secured into a single pad, or into a plurality of pads at one cycle of the machine.

In attaining this object the machine illustrated, broadly, has a step by step vertically movable.

continuous conveyor with shelves for receiving paper and carbon sheets. Located one above the other at one side of the downward path of the conveyor shelves are a plurality of tables designed to support stacks of the paper sheets and means arranged to pick up the top sheets of the paper stacks and score and transfer them onto the conveyor shelves. Means are provided for automatically raising the tables in order to keep the top sheets of paper at normal operative level. Located at the other side of the downward path of the conveyor and arranged one above the other alternately in height with relation to the paper tables are a plurality of tables for supporting strips of carbon paper which are drawn from rolls and sheared to the desired lengths. Cooperating with the carbon feeding and shearing mechanism are means which transfer the cut carbons from the tables onto the paper sheets which have previously been deposited on the conveyor shelves. Adjacent to the shelves of the conveyor are means which apply paste to the sheets near their top edges. There are no means for feeding, shearing and transferring carbon strips, and no pasting means opposite the lowest conveyor shelf upon which paper sheets are dethe front sheet of the finished pad, but there is means for pressing the pasted top edges of the sheets to ensure their adhesion. On the carbon side are means for withdrawing the completed pad from the lowest used conveyor shelf and dischargingit onto a belt conveyor. The several mechanisms are connected with the same driving mechanism and performtheir functions synchronously and deliver finished pads continuously. If all the sheets are to be united into single pads all of the pasting means are utilized, but by rendering inoperative one or more of the pasting means a plurality of pads may be produced simultaneously.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 shows on larger scale a side elevation of the upper portion of the sheet receiving conveyor.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the lower portion of the conveyor. Fig. 5 is a side view of a short length of the articulated blocks of the conveyor chain. Fig. 6 is a front view of these blocks. Fig. 7 is, on larger scale, a vertical section of the upper portion of the conveyor taken on the dotted line 1-1 on Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a similar section of the lower portion of the conveyor on line 8-8 on Fig. 4. Fig, 9 is, on still larger scale, a section showing means for connecting the conveyor blocks and driving chain. Fig. 10 shows a side elevation of the paper transfer and a portion of the scoring mechanisms. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 12 is a side elevation on larger scale of the scoring means. Fig. 13 is an enlarged section of a paper suction nozzle. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the paper supply control. Fig. 15 is a plan view of the same with parts broken away. Fig, 16 shows on smaller scale, an elevation of the operating mechanism of the paper supply control. Fig. 17 shows a side elevation of the carbon transfer mechanism with the carbon table omitted. Fig. 18 shows a plan view of the carbon transfer means. Fig. 19 shows a section on enlarged scale of a carbon suction nozzle. Fig. 20 shows a side elevation of the carbon strip feeding mechanism. Fig. 21 shows a top view of the same. Fig. 22 shows a front view of thefeeding means, with the actuating mechanism omitted. Fig. 23 is a horizontal section on plane denoted by dotted line 2323 on Fig. 22. Fig. 24 shows a side elevation of the carbon strip shearing mechanism. Fig. 25 shows a top view of the same. Fig. 26 shows a front view of the shearing mechanism with the actuating means omitted.

posited, as the last paper sheet delivered becomes Fig. 27 is a side elevation of the pastin me h nism. Fig. 28 is a front view of the same. Fig. 29 is on larger scale a top view of the pasting mechanism. Fig. 30 is a front view of the same. Fig. 31 is a view looking from the left of Fig. 30. Fig. 32 is a view looking from the right of Fig. 30. Fig. 33 is a front elevation of the mechanism for removing the finished pads from the conveyor. Fig. 34 is a top view of the same. Fig. 35 is a side elevation of the pad removing means. Fig. 36 is a larger view illustrating the action of the removal gripping fingers. Fig. 3'7 is a side elevation of the mechanism for delivering the removed pads. Fig. 38 is a top view of the same.

The machine which is illustrated as an embodiment of the invention has a vertically traveling endless-chain conveyor I located at approximately the middle of the frame 2 and mechanism for imparting step by step movements to the conveyor. The conveyor has outwardly extending shelves 3 onto which, when they are in horizontal position at the front of the machine and as the conveyor dwells between its downward movements, sheets of paper 4 and carbon 5 to produce the pads 6 are alternately transferred. The machine shown is designed to produce pads comprised of six sheets of paper and five interposed sheets of carbon, therefore the conveyor will dwell twelve times with the shelves in service position, six for receiving paper sheets, five for receiving carbon sheets and one, the lowest, in pad delivery position.

The conveyor and its operating mechanism is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3-9. The inner ends of the conveyor shelves 3 are secured to blocks 1 which are channeled on their inner sides and are hinged together by tubular hubs 8 that extend through the channel side walls 9, III. Fig. 7. On

- is pressed against a packing 31 backed by a fixed plate 38, and the shoe is pressed against a packing 33 that is backed by the flange 40 which ex-' tends from the rotatable sprocket hub. Fig. 7.

There may be any desired number of paper tables 4| on which the sheets of paper are stacked and cooperating with each table is a transfer unit, which units are similar in construction and arrangement and which function in unison. Six paper transfer units are shown one above the other on the left side of the conveyor.

A paper transfer mechanism is illustrated in detail in Figs. 10 and 11. Each paper transfer hasa forwardly extending tubular arm 42 which at intervals has radial perforations. Rotatably mounted on this arm are a plurality of suction nozzles 43 that have openings toward the table designed to register with the perforations through the tube when the nozzles are turned to one position, and to be out of register with the tube perforations when the nozzles are turned to another position, Figs. 13 and 19. The rear end of the arm 42 is connected to a lever 44 that is pivotally attached to aslide 45 which is capable of horizontal reciprocation on a fixed track 45.

The lever has a duct 41 that communicates with the outer ends of the hubs are rolls II which run on circular 'tracks l2, l3, fixed at the top and bottom of the frame so as to support the load of the conveyor and pads. The loose end of each block has a fork I 4 which embraces a sleeve I5 that is mounted on the pivoting hub of the block in advance, Fig. 5, to provide connections which allow the blocks to turn on their pivots when looping around the upper and lower tracks but retain the blocks in line when in the vertical stretches.

A double roller chain It of common construction is shown as employed for communicating movement to the shelf blocks. At the proper intervals pins I! which connect the chain links are extended into the hubs which hinge the blocks. Fig. 7. The links of the chain are engaged by the teeth of an upper sprocket wheel l3 and a lower sprocket wheel IS. The lower sprocket wheel is secured on a horizontal shaft 20 on which a ratchet wheel 2| is also secured. Engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel is a pawl 22 carried by a pawl lever 23 which is connected by a link 24 with a lever 25 that is oscillated by a cam 26 on the cam shaft 2'! so as to cause.

the pawl and ratchet wheel to turn the lower sprocket wheel and advance the chain at the required intervals. Fig. 4. v

The upper sprocket wheel around which the top loop of the chain passes has a hub 23 that turns freely on a horizontal axle 23 which is supported by bearings 30 that may be adjusted up and down by means of screws 3| which pass vertically through the upper tracks l2 and the bearings 30 and abut against fixed parts 32 of the frame. Fig. 7. By turning these screws the upper sprocket, wheel and tracks may be raised to take up slack in the chain. To prevent mothe opening in the arm 42 and that is adapted to be connected with any well known means for drawing air from the arm and suction nozzles. Horizontal movement is imparted to the slide by a rack 48 attached to the slide and gears 43 meshing with the rack and engaged by a vertically movable rack 50 that is actuated through suitable connections 58 by a cam 5| on the cam shaft 21, a sufiicient distance to carry the arm and suction nozzles from the edge of a paper table 4| over a conveyor shelf 3. The vertically movable rack 50 extends upward sumciently to engage with the gears 43 of each of the paper transfer slides so that all the suction arms will be reciprocated horizontally in unison. The lever 44 has a stud 53 that projects into a horizontal groove 54 in a bar 55 which is secured to a vertical bar 56 that is given a short movement up and down by suitable connections 53 with a cam 51 on the cam shaft. The vertical movement of i 1 the bar 58 raises and lowers the grooved horizontal bar 55 and this, by means of the stud and groove connection swings the lever 44 and the arm interfering with their horizontal travel.

given a vertical movement and caused to pick up from the tables 4| edges of sheets of paper 4 and then given a horizontal movement to draw the sheets picked up over shelves 3 of the conveyor where the nozzles are lowered and the sheets deposited on the conveyor shelves.

Positioned adjacent to and extending parallel with the edges of the sheets of paper stacked on the tables 4| are tubes II that are adapted to be creases until a trip screw 98 carried by a limb of connected with any common type of blower. On these tubes are blocks 6| that have passages which communicate with the interior of the tubes. Adjustably attached to a'bar 62 are blocks 03 that have'passages which at one end are connected by flexible tubes 64 with the passages In the blocks GI and at the other end are provided with nozzles 65, Fig. 11. The flexible tubes allow the nozzles to be moved to different localities and directed in the desired direction toward the stacks of paper so that air drafts projected from the nozzles will cause the edges of the top sheets, that are to be engaged and picked up by the suckers, to be separated to such an extent that only one sheet at a time will be lifted from each table II and transferred to a conveyor shelf 3, Figs. 11, 14.

As asheet of paper is lifted from each table II and is transferred to a conveyor shelf 3 by the suckers 43 it is drawn across a fixed plate 06 and between a, pair of scoring rolls 61, 08, which are so located one above the other at the front of the machinebetween the table and shelf that they will score the sheet near its front edge. The upper roll 61 is in the form of a disk with a notched edge for producing the score, while the lower roll 69 is in the form of a cylinder which acts as a bed, Fig. 12. The disk is secured to an end of a short shaft 69 which at its other end has a gear 10. The bearing block 1| of this shaft is adjustably attached to the frame so as to permit the axial position of the disk along the surface of the cylinder to be changed and thus the distance of the score from the top edge of the sheet to be varied. The cylinder shaft 12 at its front end has a gear 13 that meshes with the gear and at its rear end has a sprocket wheel 14 which meshes with a chain 15 that has its ends connected with the opposite ends of the sucker transfer slide 45, Figs. 10, 11, so that the scoring rolls will rotate together at the same peripheral speed as the paper travels while being transferred to the conveyor shelf.

As the tops of the stacks of paper sheets on the tables are lowered by the repeated withdrawals of sheets by the sucker arms the tables upon which the sheets are stacked are raised, there being similar elevating means provided for each paper table. Mechanism for this purpose is illustrated in detail by Figs. 14-16.

To accomplish this there is an angular feeler lever 16 attached to the front end of a shaft 11 which extends horizontally front and back at one side above each table. At one end the feeler lever has a finger 18 that is adapted to be oscillated :nto and out of engagement with the top sheet of the stack. A spring 19 tends to pull the finger down toward the stack, and a screw 80 carried by a limb of the lever and a stud 8| projecting from the frame cooperate to limit the downward movement of the finger, Fig. 14. Attached to the rear end of the shaft 11 is an arm 92 which is engaged by a collar 83 that is adjustable on a vertically reciprocated rod 84 which is connected by a link 95 with a lever 86 that is oscillated by a cam 81 on the cam shaft 21, Fig. 16. This rod continues past all of the paper tables and has a collar positioned to engage each arm. When the rod is drawn down the collar pushes the arm down and causes the finger to be lifted, and as the rod and collar are raised the spring pulls the finger down. If the height of the stack is normal the finger engages the top sheet of the stack and the lever has only a short oscillation. As the level of the top of the stack lowers the distance of the downward movement of the finger inthe feeler lever engages a latch 09 that is pivoted to the frame, and pushes the end of the latch from a catch stud which projects from an angular pawl lever 9| that is pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 92. A spring 93 tends to pull the latch into engagement with the catch, and a stop screw 94 carried by the latch is ad- Justed to engage a fixed bracket 95 for limiting the distance of engagement of the latch with the catch. Secured to the front end of the shaft 92 is a ratchet wheel 98 and secured to the rear end is a spiral gear 91 that meshes with a spiral gear 98 which Is secured to the lower end of a vertically arranged elevating screw 99 that extends through a fixed hub I00 and is threaded through a vertically movable slide IOI which carries a paper table. One limb of the pawl lever 9| carries a pawl I02 that engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 96 and the other limb of the pawl lever is adapted to be engaged by a collar I03 that is adjustable on a vertically reciprocated rod I04 which is connected by a link I05 to a lever I00 that is oscillated by a cam I01 on the cam shaft 20. The rod I04 continues past all of the paper tables and has a collar I03 positioned to engage each pawl lever 9|. When the latch is pushed from the catch a spring I08 pulls the pawl lever so as to retract the pawl and carry the end of the lever into the path of the collar on the vertically reciprocated rod. 4 The distance of retraction of the pawl is determined by the adjustment of the screw I09 which is turned through the fixed bracket 95. As long as the latch is released from the catch, each time that rod I04 moves downward its collar engages the end of a pawl lever and pushes it in such a way that the pawl will advance the ratchet wheel, and thus turn the ratchet shaft and through the spiral gears and elevating screw raise the table. The table is elevated until the downward movement of the finger at the end of the feeler lever is so limited by the top sheet of paper that the trip screw which the feeler lever carries will not engage the latch. When the paper level reaches normal and the feeler lever is not oscillated suiliciently for the trip screw toengage the latch the latch is drawn back over the catch and holds the pawl lever so that it will not be engaged and oscillated by the vertical movements of its actuating rod and collar. With such elevating means located adjacent to each table the top sheets of the stacks of paper on the tables are sustained at the proper levels to be picked up and transferred by the sucker arms. By adjusting the vertical positions on the rod I04 of the collars I03 which engage the pawl levers 9| the distance of advance of the pawls may be varied, and by adjusting the screws I09 threaded through the fixed brackets the distance of retraction of the pawls may be varied and thus the ratchet wheels turned a greater or less degree according to the distance the paper tables must be raised to have the top sheets at the proper levels to be picked up by the transfer suckers. The pawls I02 are pivotally connected with the pawl levers in such manner that they may be turned out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheels, and the shafts upon which the ratchet wheels are secured may be provided at the front with crank handles I I0 by means of which the tables may be moved manually up or down when the pawls are disengaged from the ratchet wheels.

The mechanisms for transferring the carbon sheets from the carbon tables III to the conveyor shelves 3 are located vertically on the right side of the conveyor path and are practically the same as the paper transfer mechanisms with which they alternate in vertical position but act simultaneously. There is one less carbon transfer unit than paper transfer unit as the first and last sheets of the pads are paper. These mechanism are illustrated in detail by Figs. 17-19.

The suction nozzles I I2 are mounted on a tubular arm II3 the rear end of which is connected with a lever II4 that is pivotally attachedto a slide II5 which is capable of horizontal reciprocation on a fixed track II5. This lever has a duct II1 that communicates with the opening in the arm and is adapted to be connected with means for drawing air from the arm and suction nozzles. Horizontal movement is imparted to the slide by means of a rack II3, that is secured to the slide and is engaged by a gear II9 on an arbor which has a gear I that is engaged by a vertically movable rack I2I, the rack I2I being connected by link I22 and lever I23 with cam I24 on the cam shaft 21. The lever II4 has a stud I25 that projects into a horizontal groove I25 in a bar I21 which is secured to a verticaly movable bar I23, the vertical bar being conneced by-link I29 and lever I30 with cam I9I on the cam shaft. The vertically movable rack I2I extends upwardsufficiently to engage the gears I20 of each carbon transfer, and the vertically movable bar I25 extends upward a sufllcient distance to carry a horizontal bar I21 so located as to engage each carbon transfer lever II4. By means of these mechanisms all of the carbon sheet suckers are given vertical and horizontal movements for picking up carbon sheets from the carbon tables and transferring them to and delivering them onto the conveyor shelves.

To allow for the transfer of carbon sheets I of different lengths the levers II4 that carry the arms H3 and suction nozzles II2 are pivotally connected to blocks I32 which are movably attached to the slides H5 and that are capable of longitudinal adjustment along the slides by means of screws I33 which are carried by the slides and are threaded into the blocks. By

means of this adjustment while the transfer suction nozzles always travel the maximum distance they may be located so as to engage the advance ends of diflerent lengths of the carbon sheets that are on the carbon tables and transferthe sheets onto the conveyor shelves and leave the sheets with their trailing edges always in the same position. There are a suflicient number of suction nozzles on each arm to engage carbon sheets of maximum width. If the sheets are less than the maximum width the nozzles which are not engaged with the carbons are put out of action by reversing them on the arms, two being reversed and out of service being shown in Fig. 18.

Strips of carbon paper I34 of the desired a width are drawn by feed rolls I35 from spools I35 placed on axles I31 that project from brackets I33 secured to the frame, and laid on the carbon tables III where the ends are cut oil to produce sheets 5 of the desired lengths for transfer to the conveyor shelves 3. Details of the feeding mechanism are illustrated by Figs. 20-23.

rotate together at the same speed. The hub of .the lower pinion is secured on an arbor I40 and also to one member of a one way roller clutch HI, and secured to the other member of this clutch is a pinion I42 which is engaged by a segmental rack I43 that is pivoted on an arbor I44. Movable in an opening in the shank of the segmental rack is a crank block I45 that is adjustably connected with a crank I45. Secured to this crank is a gear I41 that is engaged by a vertical rack I49 which extends past all of the carbon tables and at its lower end is connected by a link I49 with a lever I50 that is oscillated by cam I5I on crank shaft 21. By this mechanism all of the carbon feed rolls may be rotated to feed carbon strips onto the carbon tables coincidently. As the lengthof the carbon sheets may vary the distance of feed of the strips is varied accordingly. To provide for such variation of feed the connection of the crank with the segmental rack is capable of radial adjustment. In the arrangement illustrated the crank block I45 is mounted on a stud I52 which has a head I53 that is located in a slot in the crank, and a screw I54 carried by the crank is threaded through the head of the stud. By turning this screw the distance of the crank block I45 from the pivot I44 of the segmental rack I43 may be adjusted so that the effective swing of the segmental rack will feed the desired length of carbon strip. The end of the arbor I40 is'provided with a handle I55 by means of which the feed rolls may be manually-turned.

After the carbon strips have been fed by the feed rolls onto the carbon tables, the fed ends are sheared to produce sheets of the desired lengths. The shearing mechanism is illustrated in detail by Figs. 24-26.

Supported by and extending between sections of the frame at each carbon table in advance of the feed rolls I35 is a fixed shearing blade I55, and pivoted at one end to a bracket I51 that is secured to a section of the frame is an oscillatory bar I59 which carries a shearing blade I59. A spring I50 is arranged between the pivotal bearing bracket I 51 and nuts on a headed rod I5I .by means of which the alignment of the cutting edges of the shearing blades may be regulated, and a spring I62 is connected between the oscillatory blade bar and the frame to cushion the downward movements of the bar and blade and assist their upward movements. The swinging end of the pivoted blade bar has a fork I53 and projecting from the side into this fork is a pin I54 that is capable of longitudinal movement in a sleeve I55 secured on a vertically movable rod I55. The lower end of this rod has a collar I51 that is engaged by a lever which is connected by links I59, I10 with a lever "I that is oscillated by a cam I12 on the cam shaft 21.

By this mechanism the pivoted blade is drawn The feed rolls are supported one above the other by bearings in the frame and are provided with intermeshing pinions I39 so that they will down, following each feed of a carbon strip onto a carbon table, and severs the length of carbon which is to be transferred to the conveyor, and is lifted after each cut. By drawing the pin I54 out from the forked end of oscillatory blade bar the bar may be disconnected so that it will not be oscillated by the vertically moving rod, and then by grasping the handle I13 the shearing blade can be operated manually or can be held out of operative position by the spring I52.

After each sheet of paper and carbon, except the last sheet of paper, has been transferred to the conveyor shelves paste is applied to the upper surface near the top edge so that the sheets will adhere. The pasting mechanism is illustrated in detail by Figs. 27-32.

Supported by the frame at the front of the machine and oppositeeach used conveyor shelf 3, except the lowest, upon which the paper and carbon sheets are alternately deposited, is a tank I14 for containing paste. In this tank is a roll I15 the shaft I18 of which at one end outside of the tank has a ratchet wheel I11 that is engaged by a pawl I18 which is mounted on a pawl lever I19. The pawl lever is arranged to be engaged by an arm I80 of an angle lever I8I for advancing the pawl and ratchet and turning the paste roll in the tank. The angle lever I8I is fastened to one end of a rock shaft I82 that extends horizontally beneath .the tank, and an angle lever I83 is fastened to the other end of the rock shaft I82. A rock shaft I84 which extends horizontally above the tank is pivotally supported by the upper ends of the levers IN and I83. Secured to the rock shaft I84 near the angle levers are arms I85 and connecting the outer ends of these arms is a bar I88 which carries a pad I81 that extends downwardly from the bar across the front of the tank. The bar I88 also carries near each end a plate I88 that is pressed downward by springs I89.

The lever I83 has a limb I90 that is engaged by a slotted collar I9I on a vertical shaft I92 which is connected by link I93 with lever I94 that is oscillated by cam I95 on cam shaft 21. The upward and downward movements of the shaft I92 oscillate the lever I83 and impart a general horizontal movement to the arms I85 and bar I88 which carries the pad I81 and plate I88. Extending from the arm I85 at one side of the tank is an arm I98 that is engaged by a slotted collar I91 on a vertical shaft I98 which is connected by link I99 with lever 200 that is oscillated by a cam 20I on the cam shaft 21. The vertical movements of the shaft I98 oscillate the arms I85 and impart upward and downward movements to the bar I86 which carries the pad I81 and plate I88. The mechanisms are so arranged and the cams so timed that the paste pad in its upward position is carried into contact with the paste roll and then over the edge of the sheets on the conveyor shelf where it is lowered into engagement with the sheets to apply paste thereto. A spring 202 is arranged to ensure the necessary pressure of the pad on the sheet. The paste pad is then raised and returned to the roll for gathering. more paste. The yielding plate I88 engages the sheets in advance of the engagement of the. paste pad and following the lifting of the pad, so as to prevent the displacement of the sheets and hold them down until the paste pad has risen therefrom. The shafts I92 and I98 extend upward past the several pasting means so that all will be actuated in unison. As stated no paste is applied to the last sheet of paper fed on to a conveyor shelf as that sheet forms the front of the finished article, therefore at this locality the paste tank is omitted but a plate is employed for pressing the pasted sheets together.

At the station reached by a conveyor shelf below the station at which the last paper sheet is applied and a pad completed, the pad isremoved from the conveyor, the mechanism for accomplishing this being illustrated in detail by Figs. 33-36.

Supported horizontally by brackets 203 secured to the frame and located at the right of the conveyor and approximately opposite the lowest 2 with a lever 2I2 adapted to be oscillated by a cam 2I3 on the cam shaft 21. Secured to the slide and extending forwardly over the carbon table III is an arm 2 that has rigid teeth 2I5 which project toward the conveyor path. Near v the ends of the arm 2I4 are upwardly extending ears 2I8, and between and pivotally supported thereby is a plate 2". Secured to the under side of this plate are spring fingers 2I8 that project outward over the rigid teeth 2 I5 of the arm 2 I4. 0n the top of the plate and near each end are cam surfaces 2I9.

Supported by the cars is a rock shaft 220 and secured to this shaft above the cam surfaces are downwardly projecting rocker arms 22I that have rolls 222 which are adapted to engage the cam surfaces. .A spring 223 tends to swing up the plate 2" and open the spring fingers from the rigid teeth on the arm M4 and also retain the cam surfaces in engagement with the rocker rolls. At the rear end of the rock shaft 220 is a rocker arm 224 with a roll which is carried into the path of projections 225 from the conveyor shelves when the slide 206 and arm 2I4 are advanced, and is carried into engagement with a fixed wedge 228 when the slide and arm are retracted. By means of this mechanism the slide and arm are carried forward with the spring fingers retained open from the rigid teeth on the arm until they span the finished pad on the conveyor shelf 204. The edges of the conveyor shelves have notches 221 which allow the teeth and fingers to span the edge of the pad and also allow the conveyor shelves to pass them. As the conveyor moves downward the conveyor shelf 204' above that upon which the finished pad lies engages the rocker arm 224 and turns the rocker arms 22I in such manner that their rolls run up on the cam surfaces 2| 9 and force the plate down and hold the spring fingers so that the pad will be tightly gripped between the spring fingers and rigid teeth on the arm. As the slide and arm are retracted the pad is drawn from the conveyor shelf and at the end of the return movement the rocker 224 engages the fixed wedge arm 226 and turns the rocker arms 22I so that the rolls 222 free the plate and allow the spring fingers to open and drop the pad.

As the completed pads are dropped by the discharge mechanism they fall upon a belt which.

carries them away from the machine. Such a removing mechanism is illustrated in detail by Figs. 37, 38. This mechanism comprises an endless belt 228 which travels around an idle drum 229 and a driven drum 230 spaced apart the desired distance. The driven drum is fastened on a shaft 23I that is adjustably mounted in a bracket 232 secured to the frame. Attached to the shaft is a ratchet wheel 233 engaging with which is a pawl 234 carried by a lever 235 that is pivoted on the shaft. The pawl lever is connected by a link 230 with a lever 231 that is connected by links 238, 239 with a lever 240 which is oscillated by cam 2 on the cam shaft 21. By this mechanism the belt is moved a step after each movement of the conveyor, or after it re ceives a pad from the conveyor. 7

This machine can be built with any desired number of units for transferring and scoring paper sheets arranged one above the other at one ,side of the endless conveyor and at the other side of the conveyor one above the other, one less in number, units for feeding, shearing and transferring carbon sheets. The carbon sheets may be any length and width, and the edges of the paper and carbon sheets pasted together to form a single pad at each cycle of the machine, or by rendering inoperative one or more carbon feed units and corresponding pasting units several pads of fewer sheets may be produced at each cycle of the machine.

For brevity and to readily distinguish the materials handled and the elements .by which the materials are manipulated, the specification and claims use the terms "paper" and "carbon." It

' is to be understood, however, that instead of "carbon" sheets, duplicating sheets of other character than carbon, or sheets of tissue, may be supplied as inserts, the substance of the invention set forth herein being the mechanism set forth and not the specific materials mentioned.

The invention claimed is: I

1. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one, above the other at one side of the path of said shelves, a plurality of carbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height, means for transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, means for transferring sheets from the carbon tables onto conveyor shelves, and mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to said conveyor and causing the conveyor shelves to dwell in succession opposite a paper transfer and then opposite a carbon transfer,. whereby sheets of paper and carbon will be superposed alternately on conveyor shelves.

2. The machine described in claim 1 characterized in that the mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to the conveyor comprises an endless chain, sprocket wheels meshing with said chain, and cam actuated ratchet and pawl means for intermittently advancing said chain.

3. The machine described in claim 1 characterized in that-said conveyor comprises an endless chain, articulated blocks pivotally connected to said chain and shelves carried by and projecting from said blocks.

4. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one above the other at one side of the path of said shelves, a plurality ofv carbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height,

3 means for transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, means for transferring sheets from the carbon tables onto conveyor shelves, and mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to said conveyor a distance equal to the vertical distance between said paper tables and carbon tables.

5. The machine described in claim 4 characterized in that the mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to the conveyor com- 1 prises an endless chain, sprocket wheels meshing with said chain, cam actuated ratchet and l pawl means for intermittently advancing one of i said sprocket wheels, and a friction brake engaging one of said sprocket wheels and restraining the advance movements of said sprocket wheels and chain.

6. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one above the other at one side of the path of said shelves, aplurality ofcarbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height, means for transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, means for transferring sheets from the carbon tables onto conveyor shelves, mechanism connecting said paper and carbon transferring means and causing them to function simultaneously, and mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to said conveyor'and causing the conveyor shelves to dwell in succession opposite a paper transfer and then opposite a carbon transfer.

7. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless'conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one above the other at one side of the path of said shelves, a plurality of carbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height, suction means for lifting and transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, suction means for lifting and transferring sheets from the carbon tables onto conveyor shelves, and mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to said conveyor and .causing the conveyor shelves to dwell in succession opposite a paper transfer and then opposite a carbon transfer.

8. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one above the other at one side of the path of said shelves, a plurality of carbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height, a plurality of reciprocating suction means for transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, means connecting and reciprocating all of said paper suction transferring means coincidently, means for transferring sheets from the carbon tables onto conveyor shelves, and mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to said conveyor and causing the conveyor shelves to dwell in succession opposite a paper transfer and then opposite a carbon transfer.

9. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one above the other at one side of the path of said shelves, a plurality of carbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height, means for transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, a plurality of reciprocating suction means for transferring sheets from the carbon tables onto concession opposite a paper transfer and then opposite a carbon transfer.

10. A machine as described in claim '7 characterized by having mechanism for transverse- ,ly reciprocating said paper and carbon transmovable horizontal tracks and slidable 00111180 tions between said levers and said horizontal tracks.

12. A machine as described in claim '7 characterized by having said paper and carbon transferring means comprised of levers pivoted to horizontally movable slides, horizontal racks on said slides, gears in mesh with the horizontal racks, vertical racks engaging said gears, cams and connections for reciprocating said vertical racks, vertical bars, cams and connections for reciprocating said bars, horizontal tracks carried by said bars, and sliding connections between said levers and said tracks.

13. A machine as described in claim 7 characterized by having paper and carbon transferring means comprised of lever-s, tubular arms extending from said levers, said arms having a plurality of transverse perforations, and suction cups rotatable on said arms, said cups having radial openings that in one position of the cups communicate with the perforations in the arms and in another position of the cups are cut off from the perforations in the arms.

14. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one above the other at one side of the path of said shelves, a plurality of carbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height, suction means for lifting and transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, means for initially separating the sheets on the paper tables so that the suction means will lift and transfer but a single sheet at a time, suction means for lifting and transferring sheets from the carbon tables onto conveyor shelves, and mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to said conveyor and causing the conveyor shelves to dwell in succession opposite a paper transfer and then opposite a carbon transfer.

15. ,A machine as described in claim 14 characterized by having duets with openings adjacent to and extending parallel with the paper tables, and means for blowing air from said openings against the edges of the paper on said tables and causing the initial separation of the top sheets from those below.

16. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one above-the other at one side of the path of said shelves, a plurality of carbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height, means for transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, means for scoring the paper sheets as they are transferred from the tables to conveyor shelves, means for transferring sheets from the carbon tables onto conveyor shelves, and mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movementsto said conveyor and causing the conveyor shelves to dwell in suecession opposite a paper transfer and then opposite'a carbon transfer.

17. The machine described in claim 16 characterized in that said scoring means comprises bed rolls and impression rolls cooperating therewith, and intermeshing gears for rotating said rolls in unison.

18. The machine described in claim 16 characterized in that said scoring means comprises cylindrical bed rolls, and impression disks cooperating therewith, said impression disks being adjustable axially with relation to the bed rolls.

19. The machine described in claim 16 characterized in that said scoring means comprises rolls geared together and driven by sprocket wheels which are engaged by chains that are connected with, and are drawn back and forth by the horizontal movements of, the paper transferring means. 5

20. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one above the other at one side of the path of said shelves, a plurality of carbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height,

means for transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, mechanism for elevating the paper tables as the sheets are transferred therefrom, means foftransferring sheets from the carbon tables onto conveyor shelves, and mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to said conveyor and causing the conveyor shelves to dwell in succession opposite a paper transfer and then opposite' a carbon transfer, whereby sheets of paper and carbon will .be superposed alternately on conveyor shelves. 7

21. A machine as described 'in claim 20 in which the mechanism for elevating the paper tables comprises screws connected with the tables, gears adapted to turn said screws, ratchet and pawl means for rotating said gears, and a vertically reciprocating rod with collars for advancing said pawls.

22. A collating machine comprising a vertically positioned endless conveyor having projecting shelves, a plurality of paper supporting tables located one above the other at one side of the path of said shelves, a plurality of carbon supporting tables located one above the other at the other side of the path of said shelves, said paper tables and carbon tables alternating in height, means for transferring sheets from the paper tables onto conveyor shelves, mechanism for elevating the paper tables as the sheets are transferred therefrom, mechanism responsive to the height of the top sheets on the paper tables for controlling the table elevating mechanism, means for transferring sheets from the carbon tables onto conveyor shelves, and mechanism for imparting step by step vertical movements to said conveyor and causing the conveyor shelves to dwell in succession opposite a paper transfer and then opposite a carbon transfer.

23. A machine as described in claim 22 in which the mechanism for elevating the paper tables comprises screws connected with the tables, gears adapted to turn the said screws, 

